SB 191 
. Ii2 S52 

Copy 1 



SB 191 
•M2 S52 
Copy 1 



WITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

€Xlfc BULLETIN No. 953 J "' 

^& k r~*i!£r Contribution from the Bureau of Animal Industry 

^^'^51 JOHN R. MOHLER, Chief 




•S&?''&3 ; U 



Washington, D. C. 



PROFESSIONAL PAPER 



May 14, 1921 



NITROGEN AND OTHER LOSSES DURING THE 
ENSILING OF CORN. 

By K. II. Shaw. Chemist, and P. A. WsiGHT and E. F. Detshek, Asslstanl 
Chemists, Dairy Division. 



CONTENTS. 



Page. 

Purpose of paper 1 

Previous investigations of nitrogen 

and other losses 1 

The experimental work 5 

Manner <>f placing and remov- 
ing samples 5 

Collection of the juice 6 



PfiK''. 
The experimental work — Continued. 

Method of analyzing samples r, 

Results of the analyses 6 

Discussion of results 9 

Conclusions 15 

References to literature 15 



PURPOSE OF PAPER. 

The silo is primarily a means for conserving: food material. With 
the preservation through fermentation of the mass of corn or other 
crops in the silo there is generally the loss of a small amount of food 
material. Certain losses are apparently necessary in the proper fer- 
mentation; others are probably unnecessary. 

For several years the Dairy Division has been studying to find out 
more definitely what losses incident to the ensiling of corn are neces- 
sary and what is the proper method of handling the crop to prevent 
such losses. This bulletin deals with the losses of nitrogen and other 
elements in corn silage made under ordinary farm conditions. 

PREVIOUS INVESTIGATIONS. 

The earliest recorded studies of the loss of nitrogen and other 

elements during the ensiling of corn were made with material \ery 
low in dry matter and stored in pit or tub silos. 

firfoser (1),' at the Vienna Agricultural Experiment Station, buried 
bundles of green maize, some wilted ami some fresh, at different 

1 The figures in parentheses refer to the citations at the end of this bulletin. 
33868 -1 






z~< 



2 BULLETIN 953, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 

depths in a small earth pit silo. Calculating on the basis of the 
author's tables, one notes losses as high as 74 per cent of the water 
content and 28 per cent of the crude protein of the original maize 
in the pit at a depth of 42 centimeters, but at a depth of 170 centi- 
meters only a 3 per cent loss of water and a 7 per cent loss of the 
crude protein. His tables indicate a larger loss of nitrogen-free 
extract in the upper than in the lower layers and a gain in crude 
fat in the lower layers. The loss in crude fiber is small except in 
one sample. The change in ash content varies over a wide range. 

Weiske and Schulze (2) report experiments in which they ensiled 
maize containing only 12 per cent dry matter. They used two water- 
tight vats holding 125 kilos and 110 kilos, respectively. The first 
one, containing maize well packed in, lost 26.1 per cent of its dry 
matter and 37.8 per cent of its crude protein in 112 days. The 
second one, containing maize loosely thrown in, lost 35.8 per cent 
of its dry matter and 54.2 per cent of its crude protein in 115 days. 
Both tub silos lost heavily in crude fiber and nitrogen-free extract, 
but gained very markedly in ether extract. 

Jordan (3) states that in the course of three years' work, using a 
stone-basement root cellar as a silo, he found only a 5.18 per cent to 
11.82 per cent loss of organic matter, which appeared to be almost 
wholly in the carbohydrates other than crude fiber. He notes ap- 
parent gains in crude fiber in two out of three cases and losses of 
from per cent to 0.77 per cent in the crude protein present at 
ensiling. He bases his calculations on the assumption that there is 
no loss of ash during ensiling. 

Several years later, at the Pennsylvania Experiment Station, 
Armsby and Caldwell (4), in connection with a comparative feeding 
experiment, using silage and dry corn fodder, found a loss of 10.76 
per cent of the total dry matter ensiled. Their tables show a large 
loss in the ash and in the albuminoids-, a small loss in crude fiber, 
and a large loss in the nitrogen-free extract, with a large gain in 
nonalbuminoids and in the crude fat. 

Henry and Woll (5) , at the Wisconsin Experiment Station, studied 
the losses in ensiling green corn by using three different varieties of 
corn in three square, wooden bay silos, holding from 8£ to 12 tons 
each. They report 22 and 24 per cent losses of the total dry matter 
ensiled in two of the silos and 31.8 per cent loss in the remaining 
one, which broke and let in air. They find the largest losses to be in 
nitrogen-free extract, crude protein, and crude fiber. There was a 
large gain in ether extract in two of the silos. They also find a 
small gain of ash in one silo with a large loss in the others, which is 
explained as a translocation of the mineral matter caused by pressure 
of the upper layers on the lower ones, by movement of the juices of 
green fodder or by diffusion. 



MAY261921 






* 



VY" 



NITROGEN AND OTHER LOSSES IN ENSILING CORN 



Woll (6), in another paper, gives additional data on silago studies 
taken up at the Wisconsin station. His summary of results for three 
silos indicates that he found a 37.15 per cent loss in albuminoid nitro- 
gen and a 46.7 per cent gain in amido nitrogen during ensiling. 

Short (7), in 1888, at the Wisconsin station finds during the ensil- 
ing of maize in three silos an average loss of 15.94 per cent of the 
dry matter and 21.26 per cent of the crude protein ensiled. 

Woll (8), summarizing three years' work, including 10 experiments 
in which the comparative losses in ensiling and field-curing green 
maize were studied, reports that by ensiling there was a loss in the 
total dry matter of 20.5 per cent and in the crude protein of the green 
corn a loss of 20.6 per cent. He used silos holding 8 to 12 tons of 
silage. 

Tn the fall of 1890, Woll (9) continued his experiments on the com- 
parative losses in ensiling and field-curing green corn. He states in 
the report for the year ended June 30, 1891, that with a large rec- 
tangular silo of 80 tons' capacity, he found in the 65 tons of maize 
ensiled a loss of onty 10.3 per cent in the total dry matter, and of 
12.5 per cent in the crude protein. He attributes the larger losses of 
previous years to the smaller quantities of maize ensiled. 

F. H. King (10), of the Wisconsin Experiment Station, in connec- 
tion with his experiments to determine the necessary loss of dry mat- 
ter in maize silage, studied the losses of total green material and total 
dry matter. Including all material taken out. whether good or 
spoiled, he finds in one year, in approximately 65 tons of maize 
ensiled, a loss of 7.35 per cent of the green matter and 4.95 per cent 
loss of the total dry matter. In the next year he finds a 5.78 per 
cent loss of green matter and 9.38 per cent loss of the total dry 
matter. He concludes that the loss may vary with the maturity of 
the maize at the time of ensiling. 

Cooke (11) , in the earliest investigations with maize silage reported 
from the Vermont Experiment Station, describes an investigation 
with an experimental round stave silo holding about 350 pounds of 
corn, covered by a follower under a pressure of 50 pounds per square 
foot. He states that the corn was cut while in the glaze and the silage 
was in perfect condition when taken out. His tables indicate a loss 
of 14.67 per cent of total dry matter; a loss in albuminoids, crude fiber, 
and nitrogen-free extract; and a gain in the fat of the maize ensiled. 

( ooke and Hills (12), in a comparative study of the losses in maize 
silage and maize fodder, using a square wooden silo holding 12 ton-, 
find a loss during ensiling of 20 per cent of the total dry matter, i:> 
per cent of the albuminoids, and 31 per cent of the sugars ami starch 
in the maize ensiled. 









4 BULLETIN 953, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 

The following year, in a somewhat similar experiment, the same 
authors (13) find a loss of 18 per cent of the dry matter, 11 per cent 
of the albuminoids, and 26.5 per cent of the sugars and starch of the 
green maize during ensiling. 

Two years later Hills (14) reports a repetition of the investigation 
of the comparative losses in maize silage and maize fodder and gives 
a more detailed chemical report. He states that he found losses in the 
total amounts of the different constituents of the maize from harvest- 
ing to feeding to be as follows : Dry matter, 20 per cent ; crude pro- 
tein, 12 per cent ; crude fiber, 5 per cent ; nitrogen-free extract, 30 per 
cent ; ether extract, 16 per cent ; and a gain of 3 per cent in crude ash. 

The director of the New York Experiment Station (15) at Geneva 
reports investigations extending over a period of three years, during 
which nine bags of green maize and seven bags of green sorghum 
were buried in a silo 14 by 15 by 30 feet. The bags weighed 50 pounds 
each at ensiling and, except for one bag of sorghum, were buried in 
sets of three, one bag at the center and the other two within a foot of 
opposite walls of the silo. The combined results of the 16 bags show 
during ensiling the following changes, which are based on the total 
amounts of each constituent of the maize ensiled : Losses — water, 3.9 
per cent ; ash, 0.4 per cent ; albuminoids, 18.5 per cent ; crude fiber, 9.8 
per cent; nitrogen- free extract, 15.1 per cent; albuminoid nitrogen. 
18.7 per cent ; sugars and starch, 26.6 per cent ; and dry matter, 12.6 
per cent; grains — crude fat, 45.4 per cent; and amide nitrogen, 3.7 
per cent. 

Clements and Russell (16) state that they ensiled green maize in a 
round silo 12 feet in diameter and 17 feet high and examined the 
silage a few days and also three weeks after ensiling. Their tables 
show a loss in protein nitrogen and a gain in amide nitrogen, also a 
slight gain in fiber and in furfurol, and they seem to indicate no trace 
of sugars remaining even after a few days' ensiling. 

Russell (17) gives a summary of the investigations undertaken with 
maize silage over a period of five years at the South-Eastern Agricul- 
tural College, Wye, England. He concludes that the characteristic 
silage changes are the disappearing of sugar, of some of the less 
resistant cellulose, and of a part of the protein. 

Annett and Russell (18), in a very interesting paper published 
in the Journal of Agricultural Science in 1908, give a discussion 
of various phases of silage investigation undertaken at the South- 
Eastern Agricultural College, Wye, England. They discuss quite 
thoroughly the losses and changes in the silo. Each year the in- 
vestigators buried in a 12 by 17 foot round stave silo several sacks 
of from 10 to 15 kilos of fine-cut corn at different depths, and 
analyzed the maize when put in and when taken out of the silo. 



NITROGEN AND OTHER LOSSES IN ENSILING CORN. 5 

The maize was cut green. Tn some seasons the dry matter was 
as high as 20 per cent and in cold, wet seasons as low as 13 per 
cent. They find practically no loss in crude fiber, but a very great 
loss in nitrogen- free extract, from which the sugar is shown by direct 
test to disappear almost entirely. The pentosans and protein suffer 
considerably. They state that the bags in the top half of the silo lost 
an average of 32 per cent of their original content of ether extract 
and 17 per cent of their soluble ash constituents, while the bags in 
the lower half gained over the original amounts 6 per cent in ether 
extract and 2 per cent in soluble ash constituents. They make note 
of a downward wash of soluble acids and ash. In a table stating 
an average of all losses and gains in original constituents present in 
the green material during the ensiling of maize during the seasons 
of 1904 and 1905, they give the losses as follows: Dry matter 36 per 
cent; ether extract, 16 per cent; nitrogen-free extract, 55 per cent; 
fiber, 8 per cent; total nitrogen, 26 per cent; protein nitrogen, 55 
per cent; ash, 14 per cent; furfurol, 32 per cent; and gains, non- 
protein nitrogen, 83 per cent. 

Feruglio and Mayer (19) claim to find a loss of only 5 per cent in 
the food material during the ensiling of maize. They state that 
this loss falls somewhat on the pure protein and albuminoids, but 
most strongly on the sugars and pentosans. On the other hand, 
they find an increase in ether extract and total acidity. 

THE EXPERIMENTAL WORK. 

The silo used was a cylindrical concrete silo 42 feet high by 14 feet 
in diameter inside, holding approximately 150 tons, and located at 
the Dairy Division Experiment Farm, Beltsville, Md. The floor of 
the silo was 4 feet below the lowest door, and the silo up to this door 
was water-tight. The work was carried on for two seasons, 1914-15 
and 1915-16. During both seasons the silo used was completely filled 
with corn. The depth of the silage after settling was approximately 
38 feet. 

MANNER OF PLACING AND REMOVING SAMPLES. 

Samples of silage in cheesecloth sacks were buried at various depths 
and positions in the silo. The silo was divided into 8 levels the first 
season and 6 levels the second season. The first level was near the 
bottom of the silo and the last one near the top. The distance be- 
tween levels was approximately the same. When a level was reached 
in the regular course of filling the silo a sack of the carefully sampled 
cut corn was weighed and buried at about the center. At the same 
time another sample was taken for chemical analysis. The sacks 
were numbered according to the level at which they were buried. 



6 BULLETIN 953, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 

During the fall and winter the silage was fed out as usual, and 
whenever a level was reached the sack was removed, placed in a 
closed can, and immediately sent to the laboratory for analysis. 

COLLECTION OF THE JUICE. 

The floor of the silo was tapped and a 1-inch pipe conducted the 
silage juices to a receptacle outside and below the floor level of the 
silo. During the first season a barrel was used to receive the juice, 
but this proved unsatisfactory, and during the second season a cov- 
ered concrete tank was employed. At first daily, later at more 
extended periods, the juice collected since the previous sampling 
was thoroughly mixed, and the sample, in an 8-ounce bottle, was 
immediately sent to the laboratory for analysis. 

During the collection of a number of juice samples in the season 
of 1914-15 hard rains occurred which caused the barrel in which the 
juice was collected to overflow or diluted its contents, thus destroy- 
ing the value of the respective samples. Owing to these facts, the 
results of this season's work on the juice are of value only as pre- 
liminary and as indicating the approximate amount of juice lost 
from the silo and the nitrogen contained therein. 

METHOD OF ANALYZING SAMPLES. 

The bags of silage were taken to the laboratory immediately after 
removal from the silo. After the weights were taken the contents 
were mixed and a 1-kilogram charge was taken for the gross- 
moisture determination. The remainder was pulped in a power 
meat grinder. The pulp was thoroughly mixed and charges for the 
various nitrogen determinations immediately taken. The charge 
for the gross-moisture determination was placed in a steam drying 
closet and dried at a temperature between 50° and 60° C. to a con- 
stant weight. It was then exposed to the air for several days and 
the final weight taken to represent the air-dry condition. The 
material was then ground in a power mill to a fine flour suitable 
for analysis. 

The amino nitrogen was determined by the method of Van Slyke 
and the ammonia nitrogen by the method of Folin and Macallum. 
The other determinations were made according to the methods of 
the Association of Official Agricultural Chemists. 

RESULTS OF THE ANALYSES. 

The results of the experimental work are given in the following 
tables. Table 1 gives the weight and chemical composition of the 
corn in each sack as it was buried. Table 2 shows the weights and 
chemical composition of the contents of the sacks as they were re- 



NITROGEN AND OTHER LOSSES IN ENSILING CORN. 7 

moved from the silo. Table 3 was calculated from the preceding 
tables and shows the losses or gains in each sack based on the weights 
ensiled. Tables 4 and 5 give the weights and chemical analyses of 
the juice. 

Table 1. — Summary of analyses of cut corn as placed in bags. 

Season 1914-15. 



Bag No. 


Weight. 


Mois- 
ture. 


Total 
nitrogen. 


Albu- 
minoid 
nitrogen. 


Ether 
extract. 


Crude 
fiber. 


Ash. 


Total 
sugar. 


Nonre- 
ducing 
sugar. 


Fur- 
furol. 


1 


Grams. 
3,350 
7,740 
5,510 
6,220 
6,390 
6,640 
6,620 
5,870 


Per cent. 
68.54 
67.18 
67.21 
66.23 
69.13 
74.60 
69.90 
72.19 


Per cent. 
0.451 
.406 
.506 
. 434 
.45 
.329 
.394 
.370 


Per cent. 
0. 334 
.344 
.418 
.347 
.362 
.282 
.349 
.286 


Percent. 
0.52 
.58 
.63 
.64 
.54 
• 42 
.58 
.47 


Per cent. 
6.15 
6.29 
5.65 
6.17 
5.89 
4.55 
6.17 
5.92 


Per cent. 
1.33 
1.02 
1.18 
1.18 
1.83 
1.02 
1. 56 
1.38 


Per cent. 
4.23 
3.93 
4.16 
3.07 
3.67 
3.30 
2.64 
2.46 


Per cent. 
0.39 
1.83 
1.03 
1.30 
0.71 
0.09 
0.68 
0.72 


Per cent. 
3 64 


2 


3 71 


3 


4 74 


4 


3. 74 


5 


3. 49 


6 


2 72 


7 


3 37 


8 


3.30 






Average. 




69.39 


.413 


.340 


.55 


5.84 


1.31 


3.39 


1.28 


3.56 







Season 1915-16. 



1 


5,615 
4,685 
7,170 
7, ISO 
7,935 
7,540 


76.95 
72.02 
76.63 
75.18 
74.80 
73. 28 


0.398 
.431 
.360 
.374 
.416 
.344 


0.326 
.339 
.307 
.317 
.325 
.320 






1.29 
1.91 
1.49 
1.31 
1.13 
1.57 


2.97 

■a. ;>7 

2.98 
3.17 
3.23 
3.03 


0.51 
.68 

.17 
.29 
.28 
.79 


2.33 


2 






3.03 


3 






2.47 


4 






2. 55 


5 






2.70 


6 


2.75 














74.89 


.385 


.321 






1.42 


3.14 


.46 


2.63 













Table 2. — Summary of analyses of silage as removed from bags. 
Season 1914-15. 



Bag 

No. 


Weight. 


Gain 

(+)or 

loss 


Mois- 
ture. 


Total 
nitro- 
gen. 


Al- 
bumi- 
noid 
nitro- 
gen. 


Ether 

ex- 
tract. 


Crude 
fiber. 


Ash. *»£ 
sugar. 


Non- 
red uc- 
Ing 

sugar. 


Fur- 
furol. 


Amino 

nitro- 
gen. 


Am- 
monia 
nitro- 
gen. 


1... 
2... 
3... 
■1. .. 
5... 
6... 
7... 
8... 


Grams. 
3,800 
8,550 
6,400 
7,920 
7,070 
6,355 
7,656 
6,560 


Grams. 
+250 
+810 
+890 

+ 1,700 
+ 780 
-245 

+ 1,035 
+690 


Per 
cent. 
75.14 
71.02 
73.36 
74.48 
77. 30 
75.32 
76.83 
78.52 


Per 
cent. 
0.442 
.427 
.491 
.405 
.396 
.349 
.331 
.312 


Per 
cent. 
0.154 
.168 
.237 
.155 
.149 
.106 
.110 
.114 


Per 
cent. 
0.65 
.59 
.78 
.70 
.67 
.61 
.70 
.45 


Per 
cent. 
5.10 
5.58 
4.91 
4.69 
4.40 

4.94 

4.74 


Per Per 
cent. cent. 
1. 22 0. 12 
1. 14 .08 
1. 13 . 13 
1. 16 . 15 
1.20 .09 
1.13 .74 
1. 27 .00 
1.26 .17 


Per 
cent. 
None. 
None. 
None. 
None. 
None. 
None. 

Xnllc. 

None. 


Per 
cent. 
2.68 
3.24 
2.69 
2.62 
2.33 
2.44 
2. ir, 
2.49 


Parts 
per 
million. 
1, 530 
1,420 
1,510 
1,360 
1,440 
1,250 
1, vsO 
1,900 


Parts 
per 
million. 
302 
264 
304 
278 
246 
257 
305 
105 


Avei 






75. 15 


.392 


. 1 19 - 65 


4.87 


1. 19 . 18 




2.63 


1,538.8 


°57 6 













Season 1915-16. 



1 


5,510 
5,170 
6,210 
6,870 
7,775 
7, 350 


-105 

1 K" 
-960 
-310 
-160 
-190 


78.80 
7s. 12 
77.34 
75.58 
76.98 
75.98 


0.382 
.392 
.354 
.379 
.386 
.322 


H.139 


1.31 
1.72 

1.61 
1.23 

i.n; 

1.40| 


0.09 
.08 
.09 


None. 
None. 


'J. 28 
2.37 

■J. 1 , 
2.39 
2. Hi 


1, isil 
1,320 
1,040 
1,480 
i no 


274 


?. 


. lis ' 


252 


3 


.176 1 


180 


4 


.139 


.40 Nnnfl 


217 


5 


.112 


. 35 

.11 


Nunc. 
None. 


256 


fi 


.133 


2.41 1 


192 












Avei 


age 




77.02 


.368 


.112... 


1.37 


.20 




2.34 


1,313.3 


228. 5 






1 1 





BULLETIN 953, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



Table 3. — Summary of losses and gains, based on weights ensiled. 
Season 1914-15. 



Bag No. 



Green 
mat- 
ter. 



Mois- 
ture. 



Dry 
mat- 
ter. 



Total 
nitro- 



Albu- 
mi- 
noid 

nitro- 
gen. 



Non- 
albu- 
minoid 
nitro- 
gen. 



Ash. 



Ether 
ex- 
tract. 



Crude 
fiber. 



Total 
sugar. 



Fur- 
furol, 



1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

Average of 4 top bags 
Average of 4 bottom 

bags 1 

Average of all bags.. . 



Per 
cent. 
+13.43 
+ 10.47 
+ 16.15 
+27. 33 
+ 10.64 
- 4.29 
+ 15.63 
+ 11.75 
+ 8.31 

+ 16.87 
+ 12.35 



Per 
cent. 
+24. 36 
+ 16.78 
+26. 78 
+43.17 
+23. 73 
- 3.37 
+27. 10 
+21. 55 
+ 16.71 

+27. 43 
+ 21.61 



Per 

cent. 
-10.36 

- 2.46 

- 5.63 

- 3.78 
-18.64 

- 7.00 
-10.99 
-13.69 
-12.74 

- 4.70 



Per 

cent. 
+ 11.16 
+ 16.18 
+ 12.71 
+ 18.82 

- 2.64 
+ 1.52 

- 2.86 

- 5.76 

- 2.46 

+ 15.19 
+ 6.49 



Per 
cent. 
-47. 69 
-46.04 
-34. 15 
-43. 13 
-54.47 
-64.01 
-63.55 
-55.45 
-59. 41 

-42.18 
-50.76 



Per 

cent. 
+ 179.18 
+361. 53 
+235. 31 
+ 265.94 
+210. 56 
+394. 75 
+467. 94 
+ 163.41 
+277.24 

+ 264.33 
+270. 36 



Per 
cent. 
+ 4.05 
+23.45 
+ 11.23 
+25. 17 
-27. 45 
+ 6.03 

- 5. 
+ 1.23 

- 8.96 

+ 17.61 
+ 2.07 



Per 
cent. 

+41.79 
+ 12.37 
+43. 82 
+ 39.26 
+ 37.26 
+45. 
+39. 56 
+ 6.99 
+ 33.31 

+ 31.92 
+32. 59 



Per 
cent. 

- 5.93 

- 2.00 
+ .94 

- 3.21 
-17.35 

- 5.13 

- 7.42 
-10.52 
-10.29 

- 2.26 

- 6.34 



Per 
cent. 

- 96.75 

- 97. 73 

- 96.37 

- 93.76 

- 97.31 

- 78.54 
-100.00 

- 92.31 

- 91. 65 

- 96.35 

- 94. 14 



Per 
cent. 
-16.48 
- 3.53 
-34.07 
-10.80 
-26. 13 
-14.14 
-15.93 
-15.67 
-18.24 

-15.60 
-17.07 



Season 1915-16. 



Average of 3 top bags 1 

Average of 3 bottom 

bags 1 

Average of all bags. . 



- 1.87 
+ 10.35 
-13.39 

- 4.32 

- 2.02 

- 2.52 

- 2.91 

- 3.32 

- 3.09 



+ 0.49 
+ 19.70 
-12.59 

- 3.81 
+ .84 
+ 1.07 

- .57 



- 9.75 
-13.71 
-16.01 

- 5.86 
-10.49 
-12.37 

- 9.72 



- .04-13.41 

- .34-11.29 



- 5.82 

- .33 
-14.84 

- 3.04 

- 9.08 

- 8.75 

- 7.09 

- 7.59 

- 7.31 



-58. 16 
-61.59 
-50.34 
-58.04 
-57. 19 
-59. 47 
-58.21 

-56.08 
-57.27 



+ 231.16 
+ 136.96 
+ 190.90 
+302. 96 
+ 162.72 
+667. 40 
+276. 14 

+ 184.70 
+231. 79 



- 0.35 

- .63 

- 4.67 
-10.16 

- 7.22 
-13.07 
-10.43 

- 2.16 

- 6.54 



-97.00 
-97.49 
-97. 37 
-87.91 
-89. 3S 
-96. 45 
-91. 18 

-97. 32 
-93.90 



- 3.98 
-13.68 
-13.73 
-10.32 
-21. 62 
-14.57 
-15.78 

-10.88 
-13.68 



1 These averages are based on weights obtained rather than on the percentages of the different com. 
pounds in each bag as shown in this table. 



Table 4. — Summary of analyses of juice; season 1914 


-15. 




Sample No. 


Weight. 


Specific 
gravity. 


Acidity. 1 


Total ni- 
trogen. 


Albumi- 
noid ni- 
trogen. 


Nonalbu- 
minoid 
nitrogen. 


Total ni- 
trogen 
calcu- 
lated as 
protein. 


1 


Pounds. 
57 
81 
84 

126 

127 

128 

108 
94.75 
61 

52.5 
29.25 
59 

58.25 
28.25 
25 
28.5 
14.25 
18 

151. 75 

131 
50.0 
38.5 
31.5 
42.5 
22.5 
73.25 

176. 25 
77.25 
36.50 

140. 00 
31.00 

127. 00 

149. 25 

90.00 

8.00 

23.00 


1.008 
1.022 
1.030 
1.034 
1.036 
1.039 
1.040 
1.040 
1.040 
1.040 
1.041 
1.042 
1.042 
1.042 
1.042 
1.041 
1.046 
1.047 
1.018 
1.022 
1.026 
1.028 
1.029 
1.029 
1.031 
1.022 
1.013 
1.009 
1.026 
1.014 
1.034 
1.008 
1.015 
1.023 
1.026 
1.009 


C.c. 

0.59 
17.29 
24.54 
29.12 
30.80 
32.70 
32.66 
33.14 
33.64 
32.45 
33.85 
33.83 
33.08 
32.83 
32.83 
29.69 
32.95 
32.45 
16.17 
20.14 
23.06 
24.03 
24.50 
25.45 
26.88 
21.14 
13.31 

8.83 
26.11 
12.53 
30.99 

7.82 
15.03 
23.12 
19.83 

7.06 


Per cent. 
0.0432 
.138 
.190 
.234 
.232 
.254 
.269 
.278 
.283 
.290 
.291 
.296 
.288 
.292 
.297 
.282 
.320 
.328 
.126 
.163 
.187 
.202 
.208 
.214 
.230 
.174 
.099 
.075 
.195 
.109 
.269 
.060 
.119 
.195 
.187 
.064 


Per cent. 
0. 0176 


Per cent. 
0. 0256 


Pounds. 
0.1539 


2 


.6966 


3 






.9997 


4 


.0211 


.2129 


1.834 


5 


1. S42 


6 






2.035 


7 






1.814 


8 


.0314 

.0295 

.0295 

.0259 

.0259 

.0281 

.0251 

.0258 

.0226 

.0306 

.0306 

.0131 

.0176 

.0178 

.0168 

.0191 

.0202 

.019 

.017 

.013 

.006 

.015 

.010 

.022 

.005 

.007 

.012 

.015 

.005 


.2466 

.2535 

.2605 

.2651 

.2701 

.2599 

.2669 

.2792 

.2594 

.2894 

.2974 

.1129 

.1454 

.1692 

.1852 

.1889 

.1938 

.211 

.151 

.086 

.069 

.180 

.099 

.247 

.055 

.112 

.183 

.172 

.059 


1.700 


9 


1.080 


10 


.9399 


11 


.5323 


12 


1.091 


13 


1.048 


14 


.517 


15 


.465 


16 


.502 


17 


.295 


18 


.369 


19 


1.200 


20 


1.336 


21 


.585 


22 


.485 


23 


.410 


24 


.570 


25 


.324 


26 


.7984 


27 


1.0928 


28 


.3631 


29 


.4453 


30 


.9520 


31 


.5208 


32 


.4826 


33 


1. 1045 


34 


.1098 


35 


.0936 


36 


.0920 







1 The figures in this column represent the number of cubic centimeters of normal alkali required to neu- 
tralize the acid in 100 grams of the juice. 
Total weight of juice, 2,579 pounds. Total weight of nitrogen calculated as protein, 28.88 pounds. 



NITROGEN AND OTHER LOSSES IN ENSILING CORN. 





Table 5. — Summary of analyses of juice; season 1915 


-16. 




Sample 
No. 


Number 
of days 
repre- 
sented. 


Weight. 


Specific 
gravity. 


Acidity. 1 


Total 
nitrogen. 


Albumi- 
noid 
nitrogen. 


Ammonia 

nitrogen. 


Amino 
nitrogen. 


Total 
nitrogen 

calcu- 
lated as 
protein. 


1 


1 

2 
1 
2 
3 
5 
4 
5 
3 
6 
2 
6 
4 
7 
4 
4 
3 
8 
8 
12 
9 
8 
9 
13 
10 
20 
22 
14 
15 
21 
30 
34 


Pounds. 

40 

81 

142.5 
166 
498.5 
655. 5 
1,046 
650 
413 
290.7 
237.5 
169.5 
313 
160 
250 
429 
424 
262.5 
340 
172.3 
257 
147 
254 
171.5 
205 
107 
107 
106 
177 
115 
124 

89 

68 

65 

89 

58 

90 
880 

49 

51 

64.5 
122 
157.5 


1.027 

1.029 

1.030 

1.029 

1.029 

1.029 

1.029 

1.030 

1.030 

1.030 

1.030 

1.030 

1.030 

1.030 

1. 0295 

1.029 

1.030 

1.030 

1.030 

1.030 

1.032 

1.032 

1.035 

1.034 

1.035 

1.035 

1.036 

1.036 

1. 010 

1.040 

1.040 

1.040 

1.042 

1.046 

1.041 

1.045 

1.045 

1.045 

1.042 

1.039 

1.040 

1.037 

1.030 


C.c. 
22.8 
24.4 
21.4 


Per cent. 

0.139 
.168 
.184 
. l!). r > 
.208 
.211 
.227 
.240 
.245 
.246 
.245 
.254 
.251 
.250 
.258 
.251 
.258 
.266 
.262 
.251 
.277 
.262 
.291 
.290 
.280 
.285 
.288 
.290 
.298 
.302 
.306 
.304 
.315 
.320 
.299 
.315 
.322 
.323 
.299 
.274 
.275 
.267 
.219 


Pir cent. 

0.0384 

.0384 

.0384 


Parts per 

million. 

174.2 

183.1 

171.7 


Parts per 

million. 

710.1 

850.9 

854.5 


Pounds. 
0.34S0 


2 


.8505 


3 


1.6388 


4 


2. 0252 


5 


21.4 
21.4 
21.4 
29.0 
29.0 
28.5 
29.0 
28.5 
28.1 
28.3 
28.3 
27.2 
28.0 
29.7 
30.5 
31.8 
34.1 
34.6 
36.3 
36.8 
:if,. s 
37.0 
37.5 
37.8 
38.6 
39.5 
39.3 
38.6 
38.5 
39.3 
35.3 
36.2 
34.1 
32.0 
28.2 
26.7 
24.2 
28.3 
26.6 


.0352 

.0368 

.0320 

.0400 

.0496 

.0304 

.0416 

.0400 

.0464 

.0368 

.0464 

.0464 

.0336 

.0384 

.0352 

.0432 

.0384 

.0384 

.0336 

.0384 

.0144 

.0128 

. 01536 

.0144 

.0160 

.0144 

.0144 

.0112 

.0118 

. 01328 

. 01200 

. 01280 

.0182 

.0211 

.0216 

.0151 

.0189 

.0195 

.0158 


193.7 
190.4 
205.4 
215.7 
224.6 
229.2 
240.3 
232.4 
233.4 
243.0 
248.5 
249.8 
255.1 
295.6 
301. 7 
309.6 
316.8 
317.9 
334.7 
332.4 
329.4 
356.3 
374.4 
371.2 
387.7 
394.5 
438.3 
416.0 
429.5 
441.6 
415.4 
416.4 
429.6 
448.7 
416.8 
397.1 
395.9 
419.8 
369.3 


1,073 
1,073 
1,133 
1,119 
1,159 
1,203 
1,220 
1,214 
1,240 
1,246 
1,317 
1,285 
1,263 
1,392 
1,401 
1,462 
1,498 
1,503 
1,539 
1,517 
1,558 
1,663 
1,717 
1,757 
1,771 
1,762 
1,959 
1,941 
1,986 
2,139 
1,979 
1,972 
1,962 
1,962 
1,967 
1,657 
1,759 
1,505 
1,318 


6.4805 


6 


8.6526 


7 


14. 8532 


8 


9.7500 


9 


6. 3189 


10 


4. 4775 


11 


3.6338 


12 

13 


2. 6951 
4.9141 


14 


2.4960 


15 

16 


4.0250 
6. 7353 


17 


6. 8264 


19 


4. 3575 
5.6580 


20 


2. 7033 


21 


4.4461 


22 


2. 4108 


23 


4. 6228 


24 


3.1042 


25 


3.5875 


26 


1.9046 


27 


1.9260 


28 


1.9186 


29 


3.2922 


30 


2. 1735 


31 


2.3684 


32 


3. 5910 


33 


1.3396 


34 


1.3000 


35 


1.6643 


36 


1.1426 


37 


1.8090 


38 


1.6160 


39 


.9163 


40 


.8721 


41 


1.1094 


42 


2. 0374 


43 


2. 1578 








1. 0345 


31.17 


.263 


.0283 


317.9 


1,472.9 











1 The figures in this column represent the number of cubic centimeters of normal alkali required to 
neutralize the acids in 100 grams of the juice. 
Total weight of juice, 9,494. 5 pounds. Total weight of nitrogen calculated as protein, 150.75 pounds. 

DISCUSSION OF RESULTS. 

The investigation was conducted under all the difficulties inherent 
in practical farm conditions. The silo was not in any sense an 
experimental silo. The burial and removal of the bags took place 
during the regular course of filling the silo and feeding out the 
silage. In the season of 1914-15 the filling extended over a period 
of 17 days and the feeding out took nearly 3 months from the first 
bag to the last. In the season of 1915-10 the filling took only 8 days 
but the feeding out extended over a period of nearly 7 months. In 
the former season the corn was considered somewhat overmature and 
for a few minutes during each day's run water was added through 
the distributer. In the latter season the corn was considered less 
mature than is desirable for the best quality of silage. 



10 BULLETIN 953, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 

TEMPERATURE AND COLOR CHANGES. 

The changes that occur in corn during fermentation in the silo have 
been the subject of much study by numerous investigators, both in 
this country and in Europe. First, there is a more or less rapid rise 
in temperature of the silage mass, the degree of which depends 
somewhat upon the temperature of the outside air and more perhaps 
upon the state of maturity of the corn and the degree of fineness to 
which it is cut. This is followed by a gradual decline in temperature 
of the silage and a change of color from the green of the fresh-cut 
corn to a greenish-brown. These changes in physical appearance are 
accompanied by a copious evolution of carbon dioxid and the forma- 
tion of volatile and nonvolatile acids, which have been shown to con- 
sist largely of acetic and lactic acids. The sugars both of the reduc- 
ing and nonreducing type which are present in green corn disappear 
almost completely during the fermentation process. A large part 
of the albuminoid nitrogen disappears, and there is a great increase 
in the amount of nonprotein nitrogen, some of which appears as 
amino acids. 

The causes which produce these profound changes have been the 
subject of considerable dispute, some writers taking the ground that 
bacterial action is entirely responsible, others that bacteria have little 
if anything to do with them, and still others contend that the changes 
are due in part to bacterial and in part to enzymatic action. 

DOWNWASH OF SOLUBLE MATERIAL. 

The results of the chemical analyses as given in the tables show 
many evidences of a downwash of soluble material, the upper part of 
the silo losing and the lower part gaining. In 1914—15 about 2,600 
pounds of juice were collected, and in 1915-16 about 10,000 pounds. 
Doubtless had this juice not been allowed to escape, the analytical re- 
sults for the bags in the lower part of the silo would have shown a 
greater loading up with soluble constituents, or at least smaller losses. 
Especially is it believed that this would have been true in 1915-16 
when the loss in juice rose to almost 5 tons. A difficulty in controlling 
conditions is the impossibility of removing the bags simultaneously so 
that they would all have been in the silo the same length of time. 
This factor might be quite important in the 1915-16 work, when 
from 1 to nearly 3 months elapsed between the recovery of several of 
the bags. 

The tables showing losses and gains of green matter and of moisture 
during ensiling show by comparison the marked effect of adding water 
when filling the silo. Indeed, the tendency of certain soluble con- 
stituents to wash downward in the silo, which was probably obscured 
the second season by the excessive outflow of juice, may have been 



NITROGEN AND OTHER LOSSES IN ENSILING CORN. 11 

enhanced the first season by the addition of water to the corn at en- 
siling. 

In the season of 1914-15 the change in amount of green matter 
varies from a loss of 4.29 per cent in the weight of bag No. 6 to a gain 
of 27.33 per cent in the weight of bag No. 4. The average gain for 
all bags is 12.35 per cent. The gain for the bags in the upper half 
averages 8.31 per cent and for the lower half, 16.87 per cent. That 
the apparent gain in green matter is only a gain in water which more 
than offsets any loss in dry matter is shown by a comparison, bag by 
bag, of the figures for gain in green matter and moisture. 

In the season of 1915-16, when the corn was somewhat immature 
and no water was added while filling the silo, there is a loss in green 
matter in 5 of the 6 bags. The average loss is 3.09 per cent per bag, 
and the slightly greater loss in the lower than in the upper half prob- 
ably is due to the large loss of juice that took place. The change in 
the amount of moisture present, less than 1 per cent, is comparatively 
unimportant, though it should be noted that the 2 lower bags register 
gains. 

LOSS OF DRY MATTER. 

The greatest loss in dry matter in any bag in 1914-15 is but 18.64 
per cent, while the average loss for all the bags is 8.66 per cent. The 
apparent downwash of the soluble dry matter is illustrated very well 
that season by a comparison of the losses. The bags in the upper and 
lower halves show, respectively, 12.74 per cent and 4.70 per cent losses 
in dry matter. 

In the season of 1915-16 the figures do not, on their face, bear out 
this transfusion, there being an increase in loss from 9.72 per cent 
in the upper half to 13.71 per cent in the lower half. This apparent 
reversal of the results of the previous season may be and probably is 
due to the very much larger outflow of juice. The loss in any indi- 
vidual bag does not run as high as in the previous season, but the 
average percentage loss of dry matter as ensiled is nearly 3 per cent 
more, being 11.29 per cent. 

TOTAL NITROGEN. 

The figures for total nitrogen in 1914-15 show a gain in 5 out of 
8 bags, while in 1915-16 they show a loss in everv bag. The fig- 
ures for the first season show very plainly that there must have 
been a downwash of nitrogenous material, for while there is a loss 
of 2.46 per cent in the bags from the top half of the silo, there is a 
gain of 15.19 per cent over the total nitrogen ensiled in the bags 
representing the lower half. The fact that this gain in the lower 
bags raises the average total nitrogen in all the bags may be ac- 
counted for by irregularities in the downwash by which more nitrog- 
enous material was washed into the lower bags than was washed out 
of the upper ones. 



12 BULLETIN 953, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 

In 1915-16 the average figures for total nitrogen show a loss of 
7.31 per cent, with almost exactly the same losses for the upper and 
lower bags. If it were not for the unaccountably high loss of nitro- 
gen in bag No. 3, the losses for the bags in the lower half would be 
less than those in the upper half. However, even considering the 
figure for bag No. 3 as normal, the large loss of nitrogen in the juice 
would supply a reason why the average figures for total nitrogen 
show no differences between the bottom and top halves of the silo. 
The average losses in total nitrogen in all bags for both seasons are 
very moderate when compared with the results of other investi- 
gators. 

The smallest loss in albuminoid nitrogen for either season is 34.15 
per cent, the largest 64.01 per cent, which also occurs in the same 
season. The average total loss for 1914-15 is 50.76 per cent and for 
1915-16 57.27 per cent. The slightly greater loss in albuminoid 
nitrogen in the latter season may or may not be due to the less 
mature condition of the corn when ensiled. 

The nonalbuminoid nitrogen is, of course, very small in amount in 
the corn when ensiled, but increases several times its own weight 
during ensiling in both seasons. The increase is 270.36 per cent the 
first season and 231.79 per cent the second season. 

ASH. 

The figures for loss or gain in ash for both seasons show very 
plainly the transfusion from the upper half to the lower half of the 
silo. In 1914-15, 2 of the 4 upper bags gained slightly and the other 
2 lost strongly, while all 4 bottom bags gained strongly and consist- 
ently. The average for the top bags shows a loss of 8.96 per cent 
and for the bottom bags a gain of 17.61 per cent. The total aver- 
age gain of 2.07 per cent may be explained in the same way as the 
gain in total nitrogen. The figures for 1915-16, while showing losses 
throughout, show plainly that less ash is lost from the bottom bags 
than from the top bags. The loss for the top bags was 10.43 per 
cent and for the bottom bags only 2.16 per cent, which latter would 
probably have been a gain had no juice escaped. 

SUGARS. 

The sugars, as has been shown by previous investigators, are the 
source of much of the actual weight loss of dry matter during en- 
siling. In both years the nonreducing sugars entirely disappeared 
and only about 6 per cent of the reducing sugars was left. The loss 
is slightly greater in the lower bags than in the upper. This is prob- 
ably due to the fact that fermentation has had a longer time to act 
on the sugars that remain after the first period of rapid action has 
taken place. 



NITROGEN AND OTHER LOSSES IN ENSILING CORN. 13 

FURFUROL. 

The furf urol-yielding bodies show a loss in both seasons, in 1914^15, 
17.07 per cent ; in 1915-16, 13.68 per cent. Like the albuminoids they 
show a smaller loss in the lower than in the upper bags. 

ETHER EXTRACT AND CRUDE FIBER. 

The ether extract and crude fiber were determined only for the 
season 1914—15. The former shows an average gain for all bags of 
32.59 per cent, this gain being slightly greater in the upper four bags 
than in the lower four. This consistent increase, which is quite in 
harmony with the results of previous investigators, is, no doubt, due 
to the formation of new ether-soluble bodies during the fermentation 
process. 

The crude fiber shows an average loss of 6.34 per cent of its weight 
at ensiling. Like the albuminoids and furfurol it shows a smaller 
loss in the lower than in the upper bags. The lower bags lost an 
average of 2.26 per cent, while the upper bags lost an average of 
10.29 per cent. 

COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS OF JUICE. 

The total amount of juice collected during the season of 1914—15 
was only about one-quarter as much as that collected in the follow- 
ing season. This is doubtless attributable to the condition of the 
corn at ensiling, which in the former season had become so mature 
that water had to be added, and in the latter season was rather too 
immature. 

An inspection of the table giving the analyses of the juice for 
1915-16 shows that the amount of the solids, as indicated by the 
specific gravity, the acidity, and the nonalbuminoid nitrogen, seems 
to follow the same general curve. There appears to be a gradual rise 
during the first part of the period of juice collection, followed by a 
gradual fall. The only exception seems to be the albuminoid nitro- 
gen, which, while showing a slight tendency to follow the specific 
gravity curve, in amount shows a gradual but continuous decrease 
from the first sample taken to the last. In percentage it decreases 
from over one-fourth of the total nitrogen to less than one-nineteenth. 

AMMONIA NITROGEN AND AMINO NITROGEN. 

In the season of 1914—15 the bags contained an average of 257 
parts per million of ammonia nitrogen and 1,540 parts per million 
of amino nitrogen. In the season of 1915-16 the bags contained an 
average of 228 parts per million of ammonia nitrogen and 1,313 
parts per million of amino nitrogen. By calculation it is found 
that in both seasons the ratio of ammonia nitrogen to amino nitrogen 
is slightly greater in the bags in the lower half than in those in the 



14 BULLETIN 953, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 

upper half of the silo. This is only what would be expected when 
it is considered that the ammonia nitrogen is a decomposition prod- 
uct of the amino bodies and the longer stay in the silo gives more 
time for such decomposition to take place. 

The amounts of amino and of ammonia nitrogen, expressed in 
parts per million, do not follow parallel curves, although there is 
a general rise and fall throughout the whole period of juice collec- 
tion. The proportionate increase in the amount of amino nitrogen 
is greater, as is also the later decrease. The ammonia nitrogen in 
the first sample is nearly one-fourth as much as the amino nitrogen, 
but as the amount of amino nitrogen increases much more rapidly 
than the ammonia nitrogen it drops in the fifth sample to less than 
one-fifth. The proportion remains at one-fifth, or below, up to 
the sixteenth sample and then slightly rises to the thirty-sixth sam- 
ple. Here the amount of ammonia nitrogen decreases slowly and 
the amount of amino nitrogen decreases rapidly; consequently, the 
proportion of ammonia nitrogen to amino nitrogen in the last two 
samples is raised to over one-fourth. 

The specific gravity ranges from 1.027 to 1.046 and the acidity 
from an amount requiring 21.4 cubic centimeters to an amount re- 
quiring 39.5 cubic centimeters normal alkali for 100 grams of juice. 
The total nitrogen varies from 0.139 per cent to 0.323 per cent, and 
the albuminoid nitrogen from 0.0112 per cent to 0.0496 per cent. 

The ammonia nitrogen ranges from 171.7 to 448.7 parts per million 
and the amino nitrogen from 710 to 2,139 parts per million. 

It will be seen from the tables that the greater part of the nitrogen 
present in the juice escaping from the silo is in the form of soluble 
nonalbuminoid nitrogen compounds. Although the actual food value 
of such compounds is still somewhat a matter of controversy, yet 
it may be a matter of interest, from a practical standpoint, to ob- 
serve the possible loss of food material caused by the escape of juice 
these two years. If the total nitrogen of the 2,579 pounds of juice 
collected in 1914-15 is expressed as pure protein, we have a loss 
of 28.89 pounds, which represents the protein in about 1,500 pounds 
of average silage. Expressing in the same way the results for the 
season of 1915-16, we have a loss of 150.75 pounds in the 9,494.5 pounds 
of juice collected, representing the protein in about 7,500 pounds of 
average silage. 

On a technical basis the results of the two seasons' study of silage 
juice may furnish some explanation for the large variations in the 
losses of soluble silage constituents which are occasionally reported 
by investigators. It shows how a large amount of juice, carrying 
with it much soluble food material, may sink to the bottom of the 
silo or easily be lost through cracks or through an earthen floor. 



NITROGEN AND OTHER LOSSES IN ENSILING CORN. 15 

CONCLUSIONS. 

The two years' 1 work furnishes evidence of a down wash of the juice 
in the silo, carrying with it soluble-food materials, so that the silage 
in the lower part of the silo may gain in food material at the expense 
of the upper part. 

There was an average loss for all the bags of nearly 10 per cent of 
the dry matter, which apparently is due largely to the fermentation 
of the carbohydrates and to the carrying away of soluble material 
by the juice. The reducing and nonreducing sugars almost entirely 
disappeared. There was a considerable loss in crude fiber and in the 
furfurol-yielding bodies. 

There was a loss in total nitrogen. It is probable, however, that 
this loss is due largely, if not entirely, to the nitrogenous compounds 
which escaped in the juice. The albuminoid nitrogen suffered a loss 
of over 50 per cent, while the nonalbuminoid forms increased several 
times their own weight. 

There was a gain in ether extract, which is probably due to the 
formation of new ether-soluble bodies. 

The juice which was collected the second. season amounted to nearly 
10,000 pounds. This juice averaged 0.263 per cent total nitrogen, 
0.0283 per cent albuminoid nitrogen, and 317.9 parts ammonia nitro- 
gen and 1,472.9 parts amino nitrogen per million. 

REFERENCES TO LITERATURE. 

(1) Moser, J. Conservirungsversuche mit Mais von J. Moser, Aus " Erster 

Bericht uber Arbeiteji der K. K. Landwirthschaftlich-cheinischen 
Versuchs-Statioueu in Wien, aus den Jahren 1S70-1S77." (Abstracted 
in Jahresbericht liber die Agrikultur-Chemie, Hoffman, 1879. p. 
360-361.) 

(2) Weiske, H., and Schtjlze, B. Versuche liber die beiin Einsauern des Griin- 

futters entstehenden Veranderungen und Verluste. Journal fiir Land- 
wirthschaft, v. 32 (1884) Seite 81-100. 

(3) Jordan, W. H. Report on Ensilage. Annual Report, Pennsylvania Agri- 

cultural Experiment Station (1884), p. 36-48. 

(4) Armsby, H. P., and Caldwell, W. H. Comparison of Ensilage and Field 

curing for Indian Corn. Annual Report, Pennsylvania Agricultural 
Experiment Station (18S9), p. 117-123. 

(5) Henry, W. A., and Woll, F. W. A. Comparison of Shocking and Siloing 

Fodder Corn. Fifth Annual Report, Wisconsin Agricultural Experi- 
ment Station (1888), p. 67-74. 

(6) Woll, F. W. A. Uber die Zersetzung Organisher Ammoniak-Verbindungen 

in Silofutter-mitteln. Die Landwirthschaftlichen Versuchs-Stationen 
(1889), v. 36, p. 161-179. 

(7) Short, F. G. Experiments with Fodder Corn and Ensilage. Sixth Annual 

Report (18S9), Wisconsin Agricultural Experiment Station, p. 1i!7— 130. 

(8) Woll, F. W. Comparison of Siloing and Field-curing of Indian Corn. 

Seventh Annual Report, Wisconsin Agricultural Experiment Station 
(1890), p. 215-227. 



16 BULLETIN 953, IT. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 

(9) Woll, F. W. Losses in Ensiling and Field-curing Indian Corn. Eighth 

Annual Report, Wisconsin Agricultural Experiment Station (1891), p. 
227-231. 

(10) King, F. H. The Necessary Loss or Dry Matter in Corn Silage. 12th 

Annual Report, Wisconsin Agricultural Experiment Station (1895), p. 
273-276. 

(11) Cooke, W. W. Fodder Crops. Third Annual Report, Vermont Agricul- 

tural Experiment Station (18S9), p. 96-98. 

(12) Cooke, W. W., and Hills, J. L. Report on Dairying. Fifth Annual Re- 

port, Vermont Agricultural Experiment Station (1891), p. 75-79. 

(13) Cooke, W. W., and Hills, J. L. Report on Dairying. Sixth Annual Re- 

port, Vermont Agricultural Experiment Station (1892), p. 163-197. 

(14) Hills, J. L. Report on Dairying. Eighth Annual Report, Vermont Agri- 

cultural Experiment Station (1894), p. 168-192. 

(15) Director New York Experiment Station. Certain Changes Taking Place 

in the Silo. Eleventh Annual Report Director New York Agricultural 
Experiment Station, Geneva (1892), p. 162-173. 

(16) Clements, H. F. J., and Russell, E. J. On Maize Ensilage. Journal 

South-Eastern Agricultural College, Wye, Kent, England, No. 13, June, 
1904, p. 18-36. 

(17) Russell, E. J. Investigations on Maize and Maize Silage. Journal 

South-Eastern Agricultural College, Wye, Kent, England, No. 17, 
(1908), p. 434-^41. 

(18) Annett, H. E., and Russell, E. J. The Composition of Green Maize and 

of the Silage Produced Therefrom. Journal of Agricultural Science, v. 
2, part 4, July, 1908, p. 382-391. 

(19) Feruglio, D., and Mayer, L. Ricerche Chimiche sull' infossamento del 

Mais. Estratto dal Ricerche sperimentali ed attivita spiegata nel 
biennio (1909-10), pp. 65-90. (Abstracted in Jahre,sbericht iiber die 
Agrikultur-Chemie, Hoffman, 1913, p. 261.) 

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